The issues concerning Pyla, Deryneia, the buffer zone in the area of Agios Dometios, Strovilia, and Maria’s House are not adequately addressed in the reports of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry highlights a consistent trend of maintaining equal distances and a lack of clear documentation of events.
Simultaneously, the Ministry welcomes the reaffirmation of the Secretary-General’s commitment to the efforts for a Cyprus resolution, guided by the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, which also define the parameters of the United Nations.
Regarding the reports on the UN Secretary-General’s Good Offices and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out that references to humanitarian issues remain subdued.
It further states that the Secretary-General’s dedication to restarting substantive negotiations, leading to a mutually acceptable solution within the framework of the United Nations, is reflected in the recent appointment of María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar as his envoy to Cyprus.
“The Cypriot government reiterates its commitment to supporting Ms. Holguín Cuéllar’s mission, anticipating a swift resolution of the deadlock and a restart of the negotiation process,” states the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Regarding the UNFICYP report, the expressed concern of the Secretary-General about developments in the enclosed Varosha region, for which Turkey is responsible, is noted.
The Ministry also highlights the UN’s unwavering position on the Varosha issue, reiterating their call for full compliance with relevant Security Council resolutions and a return to the status quo ante.
Concerning the situation in the buffer zone, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shares the Secretary-General’s concern about repeated violations by Turkish occupying forces, seemingly part of a systematic policy challenging the ceasefire line and the status of the buffer zone.
The reports document a series of violations in Pyla, the Deryneia area, and the broader Nicosia region, with specific reference to the buffer zone in the Agios Dometios area and Maria’s House.
Unfortunately, a clear documentation of events is not achieved in all cases, including the ongoing violations in Strovilia, it adds.
Moreover, the Ministry emphasizes that “references to humanitarian issues, such as the living conditions of the trapped and the need for Turkey’s cooperation in determining the fate of missing persons, unfortunately remain subdued.”
In conclusion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reassures that it “will continue to collaborate constructively with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus for the effective implementation of its mandate, with the ultimate goal of achieving a comprehensive and just solution to the Cyprus issue, based on relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.”
